Angiogram display overlay technique for tracking vascular intervention sites

Abstract

A method and apparatus for tracking vascular intervention sites is described. A vascular site is selected and marked on a first image of an angiogram display. The vascular site may be identified on a second image of the angiogram display.

1 . A method, comprising: 
 selecting an anatomical landmark inside a patient;    marking the anatomical landmark on a first image of an angiogram display; and    identifying the anatomical landmark on a second image of the angiogram display.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anatomical landmark comprises a vascular treatment site corresponding to a vascular intervention site.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying comprises locating and displaying the anatomical landmark.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein displaying comprises displaying at least one virtual marker representing the anatomical landmark.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein identifying comprises displaying a first virtual marker in alignment with a distal edge of the vascular treatment site and a second virtual marker in alignment with a proximal edge of the vascular treatment site.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein at least one virtual marker compensates for a change in imaging geometry.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first image and the second image are each displayed on a single angiogram display.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the angiogram display is a split-screen display.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first image is displayed on a first angiogram display and the second image is displayed on a second angiogram display.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anatomical landmark comprises a portion of a coronary vessel.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the portion of the coronary vessel is a curved segment.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a stent is located within the vascular intervention site.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the vascular treatment site is larger that the vascular intervention site.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the vascular treatment site is to be treated with endovascular brachytherapy.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein marking comprises placing at least one virtual marker on the angiogram display.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein marking comprises placing a first virtual marker in alignment with a distal edge of the vascular treatment site and placing a second virtual marker in alignment with a proximal edge of the vascular treatment site.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting comprises selecting the anatomical landmark by a user.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the change in imaging geometry comprises a change in X-ray angle.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the change in imaging geometry comprises a change in magnification.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein each virtual marker has a color specific to that marker.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein each virtual marker has a corresponding partner virtual marker, and wherein each virtual marker has the same color as its corresponding partner virtual marker.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein displaying comprises displaying at least one virtual marker that compensates for any change due to new treatment.  
   
   
       23 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 means for selecting an anatomical site; and    means for determining a first pattern of the anatomical site.    
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 means for determining a second pattern of the anatomical site;    means for matching the first pattern and the second pattern; and    means for identifying the anatomical site based on the matching.    
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising means for storing data comprising at least one pattern.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising means for recalling stored data comprising at least one pattern.  
   
   
       27 . A method, comprising: 
 selecting an anatomical site; and    determining a first pattern that includes the anatomical site.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 determining a second pattern that includes the anatomical site;    matching the first pattern and the second pattern; and    identifying the anatomical site based on the matching.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein identifying the anatomical site comprises identifying the anatomical site on a display.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein selecting comprises marking an image of the anatomical site on a display by a user.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein identifying comprises automatically marking an image of the anatomical site on a display.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising adjusting the anatomical site identified on the display by a user.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein automatically marking comprises referencing a center point of the anatomical site and adding at least one predetermined margin.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the anatomical site comprises a portion of a coronary vessel.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the portion of the coronary vessel is a curved segment.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the anatomical site comprises a vascular treatment site corresponding to a vascular intervention site.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein a stent is located within the vascular intervention site.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the vascular treatment site is larger that the vascular intervention site.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the vascular treatment site is to be treated with endovascular brachytherapy.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising storing data comprising at least one pattern.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising recalling stored data comprising at least one pattern.  
   
   
       42 . A method, comprising: 
 determining a first pattern of an anatomical landmark, the anatomical landmark comprising an anatomical site;    determining a second pattern of the anatomical landmark; and    matching the first pattern with the second pattern to determine a definition of the anatomical landmark.    
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the anatomical landmark comprises a portion of a coronary vessel.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the portion of the coronary vessel comprises a curved segment.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising identifying the anatomical site on a display based on the definition.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein determining a first pattern comprises marking an image of the anatomical site on a display by a user.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein identifying the anatomical site on a display comprises automatically marking an image of the anatomical site on a display.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising adjusting the anatomical site identified on the display by a user.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the display is an angiogram display.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising storing data comprising at least one pattern.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising recalling stored data comprising at least one pattern.  
   
   
       52 . A machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the following comprising: 
 determining a first pattern of an anatomical landmark, the anatomical landmark comprising an anatomical site;    determining a second pattern of the anatomical landmark; and    matching the first pattern with the second pattern to determine a definition of the anatomical landmark.    
   
   
       53 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 52 , wherein determining comprises creating a trace designating the centerline of the anatomical landmark.  
   
   
       54 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 52 , wherein matching comprises extracting a one-dimensional function from each pattern.  
   
   
       55 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 54 , wherein matching further comprises performing cross-correlation matching of the functions.  
   
   
       56 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 54 , wherein matching further comprises performing normalized cross-correlation matching of the functions.  
   
   
       57 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 54 , wherein matching further comprises performing minimum absolute difference matching of the functions.  
   
   
       58 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a processor to match a first pattern of an anatomical landmark with a second pattern of the anatomical landmark to determine a definition of the anatomical landmark;    a display device coupled with the processor to display the anatomical landmark.    
   
   
       59 . The apparatus of  claim 58 , further comprising an input device coupled with the processor.  
   
   
       60 . The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the input device marks the anatomical landmark on the display device.  
   
   
       61 . The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the input device is a light pen.  
   
   
       62 . The apparatus of  claim 58 , further comprising a memory to store machine-readable media containing instructions executable by the processor to determine a definition of an anatomical landmark.  
   
   
       63 . The apparatus of  claim 58 , further comprising a communication device coupled with the processor to receive data comprising at least one pattern of an anatomical landmark.  
   
   
       64 . The apparatus of  claim 58 , further comprising a communication device coupled with the processor to transmit data comprising at least one pattern of an anatomical landmark.  
   
   
       65 . The apparatus of  claim 63 , further comprising a remote diagnostic system coupled with the communication device.  
   
   
       66 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , further comprising a remote monitoring system coupled with the communication device.